RAPID WATER TABLE RESPONSES TO RAINFALL IN A NORTHERN PEATLAND ECOSYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: Two types of rapid water table responses to rain were observed in a northern Michigan peatland. The first, called the Lisse effect, occurred during rains of high intensity when the infiltrating water acted as a tightly closing lid that forced the water table to rise to the level required to compensate for the pressure increase. The second, called the Wieringermeer effect, was a rapid rise of the water table to the surface due to the conversion of capillary to phreatic water and was always followed by an equally rapid decline after cessation of the rainfall. We simulated these phenomena in the laboratory and estimated the critical parameters that determine their occurrence. The recognition of the importance of the capillary fringe is essential in evaluating the role of wetlands in flood control and in wastewater treatment.     

A better future for upland landscapes?

The Countryside Commission's report, “A Better Future for the Uplands”, contains recommendations that seek a better balance between conservation and farming and conservation and forestry: recommendations that concern the uplands as landscape. This paper considers the recommendations under three headings — those which seek to reduce conflict, those which seek to reinforce the voluntary approach to conflict resolution, and those which seek to extend control. The paper concludes with a consideration of the likely effectiveness of the measures proposed.     

ESTIMATION OF DRAINAGE AREAS IN A HOMOGENEOUS LANDSCAPE1

In areas where there is little or no topographic relief and where soils, vegetation, geologic structure and other factors are essentially uniform, identification of drainage basin boundaries is difficult or impossible. In such a homogeneous landscape, however, assumptions may be made that the hydrologic and geomorphic controls over drainage basin development are constant within the area. If this is true, it is suggested, the drainage area of a stream is related solely to the stream length and factors governing the length-area relationship are also constant. A simple formula based on these assumptions and the gravity model is proposed which can be used to estimate drainage divides in a homogeneous landscape.     

Assessment Of A Natural Wetland For Use In Wastewater Remediation

An environmental study was conducted to assess various aspects of the water and sediment quality of a natural wetland to determine its feasibility for advanced wastewater treatment in Louisiana. Nitrate (NO₃), nitrite (NO₂), ammonia (NH₄), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus, chloride, total organic carbon, pH, trace metals, fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen (DO), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were monitored. Productivity of a dominant shrub, Iva frutescens, in the wetland was also assessed. Research results indicated that gradients of chloride and salinity concentrations showed a broad mixing of the discharged fresh water into the more saline natural brackish waters. This provided an ideal pattern for nutrient assimilation by the receiving marsh. NH₄ was reduced in the range of 50–100% when all combinations of sources and outflows were considered. For total phosphorus and TKN, reduction ranged from 0–95.1% and 11.2–89.7%, respectively. Some nutrient concentrations in the effluent outlet, NO₃ in particular, were lower than background concentrations found in the reference wetland. Sediment and water showed no significant deficiency or toxicity problems for the major nutrients and metals analyzed. The secondary effluent discharges had little demonstrable negative impact on the wetland during the study period from 1995 to 1996.     

塔里木河下游土地利用格局的景观生态学评价

利用 1 988— 2 0 0 0年新疆塔里木河下游TM影像解译的土地覆盖 (土地利用图 )和景观多样性指数、斑块重要值、破碎度、分维数等景观生态学指标 ,进行了塔里木河下游土地利用格局的空间分布和时间动态分析。     

A regional survey of malformed frogs in Minnesota (USA) (Minnesota malformed frogs)

In late 1995, school children discovered malformedfrogs in a south central Minnesota pond. Press coverage resultedin numerous citizen reports of frog malformation across Minnesotain 1996. After some initial site investigation, 3 affected frogsites and 4 nearby reference sites were selected for moredetailed evaluation. Field biologists made 89 visits to studysites beginning spring 1997 through fall 1999 to examine thenumber and type of frog malformations. Over 5,100 Leopardfrogs (Rana pipiens) were captured and examined atall study sites. Water elevations and associated littoralinundation were recorded from 1997-2000. Results indicate thatmalformation occurred at all study sites above historicalbackground levels. Rana pipiens malformation across allsites over three seasons averaged 7.9% and ranged from 0 to 7% at reference sites and 4 to 23% at affected sites. At onenorthern Minnesota site, mink frog (Ranaseptentrionalis) malformation was 75% in 1998. A sitecharacteristic common to the most affected sites was an elasticzone of littoral inundation. Climate driven hydrologic variationlikely influenced water depth and associated breeding locations.     

盐城市湿地园林建设初探

湿地园林是以湿地为对象的园林形式,为现代园林的一个组成部分,是利用现代园林建设和生态学原理,对湿地生态系统的保护、重建和恢复,艺术地再现自然湿地景现.在此,以湿地园林为研究对象,分析国内外湿地园林的发展概况,论述盐城市湿地园林建设的现状以及存在的问题,运用生态学和现代园林建设理论对盐城市湿地园林的建设进行初步的探索,较为详细的阐述其发展的规划目标以及建设的思路与对策,进一步强调湿地园林在建设城市大园林、改善生态环境方面的作用,并对湿地园林的未来进行展望.     

构造人工湿地技术及其应用

通过介绍构造人工湿地对特征污染物即悬浮物、有机物、氮、磷、细茵以及重金属的去除研究，阐述了污染物去除的基本特征和作用机理，并在植物的选择、设计参数、动力学研究三方面就构造湿地设计进行了探讨与分析，对未来的研究工作作了展望。     

观音坪电站工程评价区景观格局预测分析

以湖北省宣恩县酉水流域观音坪水电工程生态完整性评价报告为基础,采用卫星遥感图片分析,运用GIS技术,完成土地利用结构和景观格局图。通过对工程建成前后各种土地类型的优势度值的变化分析得出:工程建设中会造成林草地减少约3.45hm2,优势度由原来的58.30%下降到57.41%,仅下降0.89%;林地和耕地也分别减少约7.20 hm2和0.84 hm2,优势度下降3.87%和1.92%;而水域增加10.82 hm2,优势度上升1.73%,但是它们之间的比例关系基本与工程建设前的比例相当,草地仍然是景观生态体系中的模地。工程建设后当地景观生态体系不会有很大变化。